Women should try to increase their size rather than decrease it

Come, O children, and listen closely to the words of Roseanne Barr, for she speaks not just of size, but of the power and presence that women can claim in a world too often determined to diminish them. She said, "Women should try to increase their size rather than decrease it, because I believe the bigger we are, the more space we'll take up, and the more we'll have to be reckoned with." These words, bold and unapologetic, carry a deep truth—a call to women everywhere to embrace their full power, to stand tall, to be seen, and to take up the space that is rightfully theirs. Barr encourages us not to shrink, not to apologize for our existence, but to expand, to grow, and to demand the respect and acknowledgment we deserve.

Consider, O children, the wisdom of the ancient civilizations, where women were often told to remain silent and small, to keep their voices low and their bodies contained. Yet, there were those who defied these expectations. Cleopatra, the last ruler of ancient Egypt, did not cower in the shadow of the great Roman Empire; she stepped forward, asserting her power through both intellect and presence. Her beauty and political savvy made her a force to be reckoned with, and she took space in a world dominated by men. Like Cleopatra, Roseanne Barr calls on women today to break free from the constraints that seek to define them, to grow in their confidence, and to take up the space they deserve.

In the same way, O children, Barr’s words reflect the power of women throughout history who have sought to expand their influence. Think of Susan B. Anthony, a woman who did not shrink from the task of securing the right to vote for women in the United States. She stood in the public square, taking space, speaking up for the rights of women, even in the face of resistance and disdain. She did not try to become smaller to fit into the spaces society had created for her; instead, she expanded her voice, her efforts, and her purpose, forcing the world to reckon with her power and vision.

Let us also recall the ancient Greek goddess Artemis, the protector of women, nature, and the wild. Artemis was a figure who refused to be confined by the expectations placed upon her. She was strong, independent, and free. She took up space, not in arrogance, but in a way that honored her freedom and autonomy. Like Artemis, Barr urges women to claim the space that has always been theirs, to stand boldly, and to be a force that others must reckon with. Just as Artemis ruled over vast lands with grace and power, so too can women today claim their rightful place in every arena of life, whether in politics, art, or society.

And so, O children, Barr’s wisdom reminds us that space is not a commodity we must earn by shrinking ourselves, but one that we can claim by simply being authentically who we are. When women stand tall and refuse to shrink, they do not merely occupy space; they change the very definition of what it means to be powerful. Women, like men, must have the freedom to live fully, to grow, and to be unapologetically themselves in every sense. The act of expanding one’s presence is not selfish—it is an assertion of the human right to exist with dignity and pride.

The lesson is clear, O children: Do not shrink in the face of the world’s expectations. Take space, claim it, and stand strong in your right to be seen, to be heard, and to be respected. Whether you are a man or a woman, your presence is valuable, and it is your duty to ensure that the world reckons with you. Just as the women of history—from Cleopatra to Susan B. Anthony—expanded the boundaries of what was possible for their gender, so too can you expand the possibilities in your own life by simply refusing to be diminished.

Rise, O children, with the confidence to take up space, and in doing so, you will not only transform your own life, but you will help transform the world around you. As you grow, as you become more fully yourself, remember that your presence is a gift to the world, and you have every right to stand in the fullness of who you are. Never let anyone tell you to make yourself smaller—grow, expand, and let the world reckon with the power you bring to every space you enter.